Joey Votto's Day Off Pays Dividends Mike Leake Throttles Astros

Joey Votto looked tired so Dusty Baker had a talk as to when he should rest.  It wasn't an option of rest over not rest but it was when.

Like an expensive race car, Votto's day in the shop paid off in performance, as it did with Zack Cozart a week ago and Jay Bruce last Saturday.

Leake pitched out of some jams after he was given a quick 2-0, when Votto singled with two outs in his first at bat after his vacation.  Brandon Phillips, who delights at the mention of Houston starter, J.A. Happ's name, doubled high off the left field barrier.  Votto beat a good relay to the plate.  The rejuvenated Bruce delivered a single past firstbaseman Carlos Lee.

Leake escaped a bases loaded jam in the second but had little trouble with Houston.  He was, however, aided by a gold glove catch by Stubbs, who fleetly climbed Tal's Hill in Minute Maid Ballpark. Drew  Stubbs made the catch look routine but it was far from it.

Votto singled up the middle to score Cozart in the Reds' next at bat.  Cozart singled and advanced to second on Stubbs deep fly.  Radio commentators speculated that Brad Mills would walk Votto but Mills made the good choice.  It was too early to start putting extra runners on base.  Even at .325 the odds were with Mills pitching to the Reds' best hitter.  Happ just couldn't get Votto out.

The Astros scored in the sixth as Lee hit into a double play.

After seven solid innings, Baker went to a rested, National League best, bullpen.  Logan Ondrusek got into a little jam.  With two on Lee, the only hitter to be feared in the Houston lineup, came to the plate as the winning run.

Lee hit a fat pitch hard to left but he was just a tad out in front of it and it went foul.

This time the breaks were going the Reds' way and Lee topped the next pitch.  Phillips made an awkward flip to Cozart.  Cozart was turned around but Lee, who missed time earlier this month with an injury while the team was in Cincinnati, grabbed his hamstring in pain.

Aroldis Chapman, leaving his off-field drama behind, blew three Astros hitters away, with 100 plus MPH stuff.  He earned his fourth save.

Johan Santana no-hit the Reds' nearest rival, the St. Louis Cardinals, to give the Reds a 2 1/2 game lead.

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